Natalie turned her head away and squeezed her eyes shut, nervous and tense. For a long moment, nothing happened. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Cassian's face was just an inch from hers. Their gazes locked. Her lashes trembled. They were so close she could feel his warm breath brushing against her skin. Her throat tightened, and she swallowed hard. Cassian curved his lips into a faint smile and leaned to her ear. He whispered, "Natalie, is this how you treat a good friend?" Her face went red. She stammered, "I—I was half asleep. I must've blinked into your room by accident." Half-asleep? That's when Cassian noticed she was wearing a knee-length nightgown. With them pressed so close, he could feel the heat of her body. A light scent of rose lingered in the air around her. His eyes darkened. Natalie caught the look in his eyes and instantly sensed danger. She tried to blink herself away, but Cassian moved faster. He lowered his head and kissed her. Her eyes flew wide when she sensed his lips, soft and warm, against hers. She wanted to pull back, but it felt like her body had frozen, refusing to listen. This kiss wasn't like the last time, the accidental one. This time it was gentle, unhurried, and deep.Cassian kissed her with all the patience in the world, his breath shaky and burning as he whispered against her lips, "Nattie ... " The way he called out to her was so soft and full of longing that it made Natalie's heart tremble. She felt like she was adrift on a small boat, carried by waves. Dizzy and lightheaded, she closed her eyes. Cassian felt her start to respond to him. His breath grew rough, and his body started to burn as hot as fire. After a long time, Cassian finally lifted his head. He gently brushed a few loose strands of hair from Natalie's face. She opened her eyes and saw the deep affection in his gaze as he studied her features—her brows, her eyes, her nose, and her lips. Natalie parted her lips, about to say something, but Cassian lowered his head again and kissed her. This time it was even deeper, even more consuming. Her whole body shivered, her fingertips burning hot. After a moment, his hoarse voice came at her ear. "Nattie, is it okay?" Natalie blinked in a daze. "Huh?" Okay, for what? Then she snapped back to her senses. "Not a chance!" Cassian froze, then slowly pushed himself up. With a strained smile, he murmured, "Then you'd better run." Natalie wasted no time. She blinked right into the storage space. She tumbled onto the couch inside the villa, gasping for air, her chest rising and falling as if she had just outrun a storm. It took her a long time to calm down. When she finally stepped out again, she made sure to land in her bedroom. This time, she didn't miss. Natalie fell onto her bed, her face burning hot. What had just happened? Had I lost my mind? Not only had I blinked into his room, but I had actually kissed him for who knows how long. The memory flashed back. She yanked the blanket over her head, groaning into the fabric. In the next room, Cassian heard her muffled cries and couldn't help but grin. The bed around him still smelled faintly of roses. With his hands behind his head, he stared at the empty ceiling, lost in thought. The next morning, Natalie stayed buried in bed. She rolled around for what felt like forever, too embarrassed to step outside. On the small bed, Lucky had been awake for a long time. The dog tilted her head, puzzled. Her human always woke up on time. Typically, she should be working out at this hour. But today, she was still hiding under the covers. Lucky was patient. But in the living room, Baron and Cash were losing it. The rooster crowed loud and sharp, convinced his human must be sneaking special treats to the silly dog. The rabbit, grumpier by nature, banged his head against the door in protest. Natalie could have stayed hidden in her room all morning, but the racket from the rooster and rabbit made that impossible. No matter how much she wanted to pretend to sleep, their noise gave her away. With no other choice, she forced herself to get up.She eased the door open—only to find Cassian stepping out of his room at the same moment. Her eyes darted away instantly. She snapped at Baron and Cash instead, scolding them for all the noise. The two shrank back, looking guilty and pitiful. They finally went quiet. Cassian stood nearby, watching her fuss like an angry schoolteacher. A soft laugh slipped out before he could stop it. Natalie's head shot up. Their eyes met. Outside, the rain still poured hard, drumming against the windows. The steady sound only made the silence inside feel heavier. The longer their eyes met, the more her mind betrayed her. Last night's closeness came rushing back—the brush of his breath, the heat of his skin. She tore her gaze away, flustered. Cassian stepped closer. His throat moved as he spoke in a low voice. "Nattie, we ... " She turned her head again—straight toward his lips. Thin. Soft. Way too soft to touch. Natalie jerked her eyes aside. What on earth am I thinking? Soft?! Really?! She wanted to scream at herself. She couldn't even look straight at him anymore. Every time she did, her brain filled with thoughts she couldn't stop. Cassian noticed her nervous glances and smiled knowingly. He finished his sentence."So ... what are we now?" Natalie exploded at the question. "What do you mean by that? I already told you—we're just friends!"